logo
episode-header-image
Jul 21
6m 56s

Unlock Your Potential with the Power of ...

NIR EYAL
About this episode

Your beliefs are tools, not truths.

In 2006, U.S. Team freestyle skier Michelle Roark zoomed down the slope at her first Olympics, conquering hilly terrain that not even a 4×4 could handle. At 31, she was already years older than the average Olympic freestyle skier (24 years old at the time). She had fought through massive obstacles for half her life to get there.

Roark was kicked out of her mother’s house when she was 15 and spent the next three years living in a tent in Winter Park, Colorado. She worked three jobs to support herself. At 16, she qualified for the Olympics but sustained a knee injury that kept her out of the 1994 Olympics. Two more serious knee injuries, each right before the Olympic Games in 1998 and 2002, prevented her from competing. At one point, a coach told her she was never going to make it to the Games.

But Roark knew what she wanted, believed she was capable of it, and refused to quit. She used the rehab time after her second knee surgery to pursue a degree in chemical engineering, which she eventually used to launch a business that she continues to run today. She competed in the 2010 Olympics at the age of 35.

Belief is one of the most powerful forces in our lives. Roark’s unflagging belief that she could be an Olympian brought that goal to fruition. In her mind, her Olympic future was inevitable.



You can read the Nir And Far blog post on: Unlock Your Potential With The Power Of Belief ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.

  • Nir And Far, a podcast about business, behaviour and the brain by Nir Eyal. If you enjoy this podcast, please subscribe on iTunes and leave an iTunes review. It will greatly help new listeners discover the show. Please visit my website Nir and Far for other info about my writing, books and teaching: ⁠⁠http://www.nirandfar.com/

Up next
Jul 28
Finding Your Footing When The Ground Shifts Beneath You
Imagine this: You walk into work on a normal Tuesday, coffee in hand, only to be called into an emergency all-hands meeting. Your division is being dissolved.Or perhaps your phone alerts you to another presidential directive that threatens your livelihood or community.Or a routin ... Show More
10 m
Jul 7
The Pain Paradox: How Fear of Pain Creates More Pain
In the opening shot of the music video for “Throw Some Ass,” the camera scans a clinical white sign: “Sofi Tukker Center for Asses That Don’t Move Good.” Inside the mock hospital, a heart monitor flatlines—until the beat drops. Suddenly, the music video erupts into a NSFW riot of ... Show More
8m 40s
May 26
Let's Not Decide Who Kids Are Before They Do
The true joy of parenthood lies in watching our children unfold into their authentic selves. Week by week, month by month, year by year, they evolve into increasingly complex human beings with their own preferences, talents, and perspectives. Yet in our eagerness to know them—and ... Show More
11m 8s
Recommended Episodes
Aug 2024
Does sex help us to sleep better?
According to Mental Health UK, nearly one in five people in the country don’t get enough sleep. We’ve talked about various types of sleep disorder in the past on Do You Really Know and the link between good sleep and good health is well established.Many people turn to sleeping pi ... Show More
4m 9s
Feb 2025
What Your Sleep Is Trying To Tell You: How To Fix Your Sleep Problems, Reset Your Brain & The Difference Between Fatigue and Tiredness with Guy Leschziner #528
Did you know that up to 40% of adults in Western countries struggle to get enough sleep?While some societies have historically never even had a word for insomnia, our modern world has created an epidemic of sleep problems, which affect not only our creativity, empathy, appetite a ... Show More
1h 46m
May 2024
2549: Tired of Being Tired by Dr. Jenny Brockis on Improving Sleep Quality
Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com.Episode 2549:Dr. Jenny Brockis explores the underrated yet critical aspect of health—sleep. In "Tired of Being Tired," she explains ... Show More
9m 48s
Feb 2025
Staying Steady In An Unsteady World | Sleep Hypnosis For Releasing Stress
In tonight's Sleep Hypnosis with Jessica, we're going to be exploring how to keep a calm, balanced centre in a world that's constantly changing, and not always in the way that you'd like it to. If you're someone who finds the news too stressful or unsettling, or who's been sent i ... Show More
56m 10s
Sep 2024
Does Catching Up On Sleep Lower Risk Of Heart Disease?
In this episode of 'Heard Online', we investigate claims suggesting that catching up on sleep during weekends can significantly lower the risk of heart disease.  Using an article from 'The Guardian' as a case study, we delve into the legitimacy of these claims, explore the method ... Show More
16m 58s
Feb 2025
Sleep & Insomnia With Dr Sophie Bostock 💌 ✨ Magic Mailbag
This Magic Mailbag is not to be missed! Hypnotherapist Jessica Porter will be joined by Dr Sophie Bostock to answer your questions on all things sleep - from which position to drift off in, to how to avoid a 'crap nap'... Get ready to become a sleep genius 🧠💤 This episode is av ... Show More
48m 1s
Jun 2024
The Mind Gut Connection | Relaxing Sleep Hypnosis
In tonight's Sleep Hypnosis with Jessica, we are going to work on any discomfort or pain that's going on in your digestive system, and better understanding the link between the mind and the gut. We'll break that habit of tensing up every time you feel something in your gut and tr ... Show More
52m 15s
Aug 2024
2657: Your Goldilocks Brain and Sleep by Doctor Jenny Brockis on Advice for Proper Rest & Recovery
Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com.Episode 2657:Discover the crucial balance between too much and too little sleep with insights from Dr. Jenny Brockis. Learn how opti ... Show More
11m 12s
Jul 2024
How can I stop micro-awakenings from disrupting my sleep?
According to a Direct Line Group study from 2022, over 70% of UK adults don’t get the recommended 7-9 hours of sleep per night. Nighttime micro-awakenings are a common contributing problem. For many of us, they happen four to six times per night without us even noticing. And they ... Show More
4m 42s
Mar 2025
My Sleep Routine to Guarantee 8 Hours of Sleep
I'm deeply passionate about busting the dangerous myth that you need less sleep as you age. The truth is, quality sleep becomes even more critical as we get older, especially when we're working hard to build muscle and recover from workouts. In this episode, I share my battle-tes ... Show More
22m 39s